Of Golden Globes and Powder Blue Polos

“The Melody Freeze, corduroys, knickers, forced fun, rehearsing, excellent music spilling out of every practice hut, chains of bassists holding the front end of their instrument and the back of the instrument of the next person in line, getting care packages, listening to a walkman at night in my bunk (it was a long time ago), mixers, thousands of light blue socks and belts, Sleeping Bear dunes ... ”

So goes the list of memories that Dan Goor holds of Interlochen.

Goor recently climbed onto the Golden Globes stage to accept the award for Best TV Comedy Series for his Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a series in its first season on Fox. The program aired immediately following the Super Bowl. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a sort of spoof on the typical cop drama and stars Andy Samberg (of Saturday Night Live fame) and fellow Interlochen alumnus Terry Crews.

“I was incredibly nervous in the moments leading up to our category being announced,” says Goor. “Then, when Andy won for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, I became even more nervous, because I thought, ‘we might actually win.’ Despite that, when they actually did announce that we had won the Golden Globe, I was so shocked that I forgot to be nervous. I was incredibly honored by the win and I was so proud to stand on stage with the co-creator of the show, Mike Schur, and our amazing cast.”

Goor’s experience at Interlochen, consisting of three summers as a theatre major, from 1988-1990, helped him develop an appreciation for the outstanding art that springs from a collaboration of talents. The uniform of camp also made an impression on Goor as well, as it has for many campers throughout the years.

“I felt like Interlochen was a true artistic melting pot,” says Goor. “I loved meeting people who specialized in different artistic disciplines. To this day, I think every project benefits by having a diverse group of talented people, who join their talents together. Also, I developed a life-long aversion to institutional light blue, short-sleeved polyester dress shirts.”

Goor’s story of success is incredible. And, for obvious reasons, many young campers and academy students hope to some day emulate that success within their own art. For those students, Goor has a bit of advice.

“Learn as much as you can about as many subjects as you can. Travel, live life, meet interesting people, try new things; because the broader your experiences, the richer your artistic expression will be. I know that sounds cliché, but it's true. And here's another cliché: pursue your art because you love it, not as a means to making a living. Creating, composing, writing, painting, dancing, playing an instrument -- these are all things that are valuable and enriching in and of themselves, whether or not you are actually enriched by doing them. In fact, when your art becomes your job, it can become just that, a job. But when your art is your passion, then even when it is your job, you can be passionate about it."